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  • Perplex
    IB Math AISL
    /
    Inference & Hypotheses
    /

    Student's t-test

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    Student's t-test

    Student's t-test

    Using the t-distribution to compare a sample mean to a population mean with unknown variance.

    Want a deeper conceptual understanding? Try our interactive lesson!

    Exercises

    No exercises available for this concept.

    Key Skills

    1 tailed and 2 tailed T-test hypotheses
    SL AI 4.11

    Given a null hypothesis H0​:μ=μ0​, we can have any of the following alternative hypotheses

    H1​:μ<μ0​,H1​:μ>μ0​,H1​:μ=μ0​.

    The first two alternative hypotheses are called one-tailed since we only care how far the sample mean, xˉ, is from μ0​ in one direction. The last hypothesis is two-tailed because we care how far xˉ is from μ0​ regardless of direction.

    T-test for mean μ (1-sample)
    SL AI 4.11

    We can perform a t-test for a single sample against a known mean by on a calculator:

    1. Enter the sample data into a list.

    2. Navigate to T-Test on a calculator.

    3. Select "DATA" and enter the name of the list where sample is stored.

    4. Select the tail type depending on what our alternative hypothesis is (μ0​ is the population mean):

      • =μ0​ for a change in mean

      • <μ0​ for a decrease in mean

      • >μ0​ for an increase in mean

    5. Hit calculate, and interpret the p-value as usual.

    2-sample T-Test
    SL AI 4.11

    To compare the means of two samples using a T-test, we use a calculator:

    1. Enter each sample in its own list.

    2. Navigate to 2-SampTTest.

    3. Select "Data", then enter the names of the lists containing the samples.

    4. Select the tail type depending on what our alternative hypothesis is:

      • μ1​=μ2​ for different means

      • <μ2​ for first list mean smaller than second

      • >μ2​ for first list mean greater than second

    5. Set "Pooled" to true.

    6. The calculator reports the t-value and p-value, which we interpret as usual.